> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.nika.sh/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# backoff_ms

> Contract, placement, related fields and source examples for this Nika YAML field.

[Language reference](/reference/language/overview) / `backoff_ms`

## Meaning and placement

### retry

Initial delay between attempts, in milliseconds · default 1000. `backoff_strategy` decides how it grows from there.

| Property        | Declaration                          |
| --------------- | ------------------------------------ |
| Requirement     | Optional in this object              |
| Schema location | `/$defs/retry/properties/backoff_ms` |
| type            | "integer"                            |

**In the same object:** [backoff\_max\_ms](/reference/language/words/backoff_max_ms) · [backoff\_strategy](/reference/language/words/backoff_strategy) · [jitter](/reference/language/words/jitter) · [max\_attempts](/reference/language/words/max_attempts) · [on\_codes](/reference/language/words/on_codes)

[Schema source (use the pointer above)](https://github.com/supernovae-st/nika-spec/blob/c5ebbb7b862b68bc6cf7235efba61173b844afc6/schemas/workflow.schema.json)

## Examples

No matching source-template occurrence is recorded in this projection. [Write a workflow](/guides/templates) or consult the schema declaration above.

## Contract and implementation

This page projects the named specification revision. Check [released engine status](/reference/status) and [the validation workflow](/guides/agent-authoring) before running a file. An optional field is not evidence that every engine supports every value.

Canonical identity: `language:word:backoff_ms`. Spec revision: [`c5ebbb7b862b`](https://github.com/supernovae-st/nika-spec/tree/c5ebbb7b862b68bc6cf7235efba61173b844afc6).

[How documentation stays connected](/reference/knowledge-system).